Records of Royal Irish Constabulary

Hi

The records are available in the National Archives in Dublin   www.nationalarchives.ie  and in Kew, Sussex, England. 

The libraries are closed at the moment, but hopefully they will be open in a few weeks time. I am wating for the opening to do some research myself.

You should check with your local library for "The Royal Irtish Constabulary" by Jim Herlihy. It contains the names of those who joined from 1816 to 1922

I will check to see if there is a "Matthew Gleeson" native County Clare.

Regards,

Dear lozzagee:

here is a link to Kew which you might find useful.  https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-irish-constabulary/

As McCoy stated, Jim Herlihy's book is the bible for RIC information in Ireland.  He does have a FB page which you might useful if you are on FB.  Here is another link which you might find helpful.

http://www.royalirishconstabulary.com/index2012.html

I have also just come across a forum where there is a list of RIC barracks compiled in County Clare.  You should definitely take a look at this site:  https://irishconstabulary.com/clare-t630.html

If you need any further help, please let me know.

All the best,

Jane

I hope I have not posted this message 3 times now. I have touched something on two occasions and lost this window and all the typing!! So i just wanted to say thanks for the two fabulous replies. There is a copy of the book mentioned in the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, but I will not be going up to the 'big smoke' for a while as I am in the bad outcome risk age group for this COVID.

In relation to some general stuff about links, I live near Koroit district in Victoria which had a big Irish settlement starting in the 1840's. See below. As Jane HR said the Irish often gathered in locations as there was the comfort of family links, the brogue and the Faith and the support that these brought in a strange land. For my generation I just wondered what it meant to leave and never see your home or native ground again.

This book may be of interest to your readers as many of the families came from East Clare. The historian who compiled the work was Helen Doyle.

Church on the Hill: A Centenary History of St Brigid’s, Crossley, and its Irish-Australian Community

This is a richly illustrated history of St Brigid’s Crossley, in south-west Victoria, which traces the origins of its immigrant settlers who arrived in the district from the 1840s onwards, and the development of what likely became the most concentrated Irish Catholic settlement in Victoria. The book traces the development of community life, as well as farming life and the Catholic faith. It investigates an ongoing Irish influence in the area and the part this Irish identity played in relation to some of the prevailing issues of the day, such as the cessation of funding of Catholic schools in 1873 and the debate over conscription during World War I. This book includes over 100 short family histories of many of the families who settled at Crossley, Killarney and Tower Hill.

https://www.garrattpublishing.com.au

Hi Lozzagee46,

Many thanks for your kind comments and the information you have supplied. Being pre-computer, I too have this problem occasionally!

I spent 14 nights in Melbourne September 2007, took the Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs for 3 nights and returned via Ayres Rock and took in the Sunrise after a night in the open. An enjoyable trip.

Regards,

Hi Lizzie:

Many thanks for your nice reply and for the information about the book which I think would be of great interest to some of our members.  Your sharing that information is much appreciated.

As you will not be travelling soon, will you contact me directly at:  jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com.  I may be able to pursue another avenue for you.

Stay safe and well.  Your beautiful country is on my bucket list!

All the best,

Jane

Good hunting

Patricia Smith

GOTO ANCESTRY.COM.  They have a listing of the RIC

Good hunting

Patricia Smith

GOTO ANCESTRY.COM.  They have a listing of the RIC

Hi Lozzagee46

I have checked the RIC index by Jim Herlihy. There are five Martin Gleeson, but no "Matthew".

Griffith Valuations - www.askaboutireland.ie - has a record of a "Matthew Gleeson" in Clonlara in 1852. He is leasing a house there.

A Matthew Gleeson married Bridget Rahilly on February 22nd 1835. He is recorded as being from Doonass parish and she from Bridgetown parish.

I will try and forward a copy to you. Their Numbere is 270 on the page.

Best Wishes,

Hi Lozzagee46,

Further to previous post the following are shown to have been member of the Irish, later Royal Irish Police: Native County - Clare

Name    Age at Joining   Year of Joining

John Sheehan  18  1836

John Sheehan 18  1840

 James Sheehan  20  1845

Michael Sheehan  24  1851

Thomas Sheehan  21  1856  Died  1872,

John Sheehan  19  1865

Thomas Sheehan  19  1867

John Sheehan  17  1873

Those Members could be from any part of County Clare, so you will have to decide which are most likely to be of interest to you.

Credits: www.ancestry.co.uk

Regards,